Thread: Border Patrol Helicopter Crashed

Border Patrol Helicopter Crashed

Last Update: 2:30 pm

ALAMO - DPS spokesperson Johnny Hernandez confirmed a Border Patrol helicopter crashed south of Alamo, near the floodway. No injuries were reported. Two pilots were taken to the hospital for observation.

The crash happened just after 1 p.m. A CHANNEL 5 NEWS crew was at the scene of a Border Patrol chase in South Alamo near that time. The chase ended in a rollover near South Alamo Road and Trinity. Alamo police officers say the chase was linked to the crash.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS is working to gather the very latest details.

The CBP Rio Grande Valley Sector's Office of Public Affairs released the following statement:

A Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine helicopter has crashed in the Weslaco, Texas, area. However, at this time, the cause of the accident is under investigation and it would be inappropriate to speculate. More information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.

http://www.krgv.com/content/news/story/ ... t-1kg.cspx

Border Patrol helicopter crashes south of San Juan

October 04, 2011 4:52 PM
The Monitor

SAN JUAN — Officials are responding to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter that crashed this afternoon in a field near Stewart and Alamo roads and the Rio Grande levee.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol both confirmed the crash.

Trooper Johnny Hernandez, the regional DPS spokesman, said the two people aboard the helicopter were taken to a local hospital but had sustained no serious injuries.

There is no word yet on the cause of the crash.

A news release from CBP indicates the aircraft was assigned to the agency's Office of Air and Marine.

"At this time, the cause of the accident is under investigation and it would be inappropriate to speculate," according to the statement. "More information will be provided as soon as it becomes available."

Alejandro Carillo, an employee of Schuster Farming said he saw the chopper trying to land. When the helicopter was no more than 10 feet above the ground it tipped on its side hitting the ground. It kicked up dirt and let out smoke, but there was no explosion, he said.

Mitchell Whitney, the director of New Life Advance International located on Stewart Road near the crash site, said he could hear the helicopter. It must have been flying low because he could not see it over the brush.

"All of a sudden, I didn't hear the helicopter and there was a loud thud," he said.

Whitney and a friend drove on a golf cart near the field where the helicopter went down, but they could not see anything, he said.

The helicopter unit may have been tracking a vehicle loaded with drugs just prior to the crash. A blue pickup truck carrying several bundles crashed into the yard of a brown, brick home near the intersection of Alamo and Trinity roads about the same time as the helicopter crash.

"It looks like they were related," said Alamo Police Chief Arturo Espinosa, adding that he was not sure of the details and DPS and Border Patrol were investigating the incidents.

Gina Gray, a Public Affairs Officer for the Office of Air and Marine said she didn't know if the two incidents were related.

A second CBP release stated that the helicopter was "flying in support of routine border security operations."

Hernandez said he could not comment on if the incidents were related.

A Monitor reporter observed Border Patrol, DPS and Alamo police units there about 2 p.m., and a roadblock had been set up on Alamo a couple blocks north of Trinity.

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/heli ... alamo.html

Prayers for them..... We want them back protecting the border very soon!
Now, what or who brought their chopper down?

Originally Posted by airdale

Prayers for them..... We want them back protecting the border very soon!
Now, what or who brought their chopper down?

"At this time, the cause of the accident is under investigation and it would be inappropriate to speculate," according to the statement. "More information will be provided as soon as it becomes available."

Alejandro Carillo, an employee of Schuster Farming said he saw the chopper trying to land. When the helicopter was no more than 10 feet above the ground it tipped on its side hitting the ground. It kicked up dirt and let out smoke, but there was no explosion, he said.

Mechanical failure, pilot error, accident?
Even in a war zone accidents are the major cause of helicopter crashes.

Accidents top cause of helicopter crashes in Afghanistan

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/s ... 50575056/1